Monitoring Behavior Changes at Each Stage of Alzheimer’s Disease

The 7 Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease

Each individual with Alzheimer’s will experience it differently, but sufferers do tend to follow a similar path from the start of their illness to its end.

The precise number of stages is somewhat subjective. Some experts use a simple three-phase model, which consists of early, moderate and end. Others are using a granular breakdown that they feel is a more useful aid to understanding how the illness progresses.

Dr. Barry Reisberg of New York University developed the most widely used system. It breaks the progression of Alzheimer’s disease down into seven stages.

This outline for understanding the diseases progression has been adopted and used by many healthcare providers, as well as the Alzheimer’s Association.

Here is a summary of the seven stages of Alzheimer’s disease based on Dr. Resiberg’s ideas:

Stage 1: No Impairment

At this stage, Alzheimer’s disease is not detectable. There are no symptoms of dementia evident. That doesn’t mean that changes in the brain have not begun to occur.

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s may occur several years after the brain has begun to deteriorate.

Stage 2: Very Mild Decline

The individual might begin to notice minor memory problems or that they lose things around the house. At this stage though, it is difficult to differentiate the symptoms from normal age-related memory loss.

The person will still do well on memory tests, meaning the disease is unlikely to be detected by doctors or loved ones.

The person will still be able to do well on memory tests, which means even if the individual or their loved ones notice a change; they are unlikely to receive a diagnosis.

Though it can be difficult to receive a diagnosis at this stage, it’s still beneficial the earlier you can be aware of any symptoms starting to develop.

Research has shown that certain brain training activities, relationship building, and social interaction can all be beneficial in slowing the progress of Alzheimer’s disease. With that in mind, the earlier you can have these things in place for yourself or your loved one, the better.

Stage 3: Mild Decline

At this stage, it becomes more obvious to the friends and family members of the individual that they might be experiencing memory and cognitive difficulties.

Their performance on memory and cognitive tests will now be affected so doctors will be able to detect that they have impaired cognitive function. They may then refer for further tests and scans to give a firm diagnosis.

It’s also possible that your doctor could just diagnose mild cognitive impairment at this stage. It is estimated that this stage of dementia can last for up to seven years.

Patients who present in stage three will have begun to have difficulty in many areas, including finding the right word during conversations, remembering the names of new people that they meet, planning and organizing.

Stage three sufferers may also frequently lose their personal possessions, including valuables that would normally be entirely secure. There have been many tools developed these days that are widely available and designed to help people with memory loss.

One of these tools is an object locator, which could be very useful indeed to a person in this stage of Alzheimer’s disease.

Stage 4: Moderate Decline

In stage four of Alzheimer’s disease, clear symptoms become apparent. Individuals begin to have difficulty with simple arithmetic, they may forget details about their own history, and they will have poor short-term memory.

They will probably find at this stage that they are unable to manage their finances and pay bills.

It’s at this stage that most people with Alzheimer’s disease reach out for help as their condition has reached a stage where it is impossible to ignore and is making their daily lives difficult. At this stage, the doctor would probably offer a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). This simple test takes about ten minutes and involves your doctor asking you a series of questions that are designed to uncover and memory issues you might be having.

The average length of time that people with Alzheimer’s disease spend in Stage 4 is two years.

Stage 5: Moderately Severe Decline

During the fifth stage of Alzheimer’s, patients will begin to need help with numerous day-to-day activities. People in stage five of the disease may experience significant confusion, an inability to recall simple details about themselves, such as their own phone number and difficulty dressing appropriately.

However, people in stage five maintain a degree of functionality. They can typically still bathe and toilet independently. They also usually still know their family members and some detail about their personal histories, especially their childhood and youth.

At this stage, it can be really valuable to spend time with your loved one looking over old photographs and talking about memories from years gone by. Not only do people in this stage of Alzheimer’s disease usually enjoy these activities immensely, but it also reminds them of who they are as a person and removes their focus from the difficulties they are currently having. It feels good to remember things, and there is some evidence that it is beneficial in exercising their minds and slowing the progress of the disease.

You might like to consider at this stage having somebody check on your loved one a few times a day. They usually don’t require constant care, but it’s worth having somebody checking in to make sure they’re ok and spend some time with them. If family members or friends are unable to make this time commitment, there are domiciliary care agencies that will provide you with visits.

Next page: More on the stages of Alzheimer’s, and changes to watch for at different stages of Alzheimer’s.

Facebook Comments

him my hubby not eating. worried about him.and he does get very nasty at times

November 24

All of them to me my Mom is in 6 or 7 stage I really don't know,but they are all hard.It is awful to watch my Mom go through this,I hate Alzheimer's....

November 24

it was when my mother got angry at every body

November 23

The hardest so far was the hallucinations and his reactions to those. We were frustrated that the doctors couldn't help much on this. After some research I made an appointment with a geriatric psychiatrist who dealt a lot with patients with dementia. He gave him a physical, did some tests, and…

November 23

I am a therapy dog. I visit memory care facilities several times a week. The hardest part for my momma is reliving the stages her dad went through. Her first thought was the violent stages but you get through those. Recently the blank look where you can see they are trying to think is hard. …

November 23

to me was her Anger stage and always asking to take her home it was hard :(

November 23

Beverly Hobaugh, you are correct, it is one of the bad stages. Just remember everyday, you are doing this to protect them from people who want to take advantage of them, take everything they have, them hurting themselves or someone else.
We went through this stage. I asked the dr to order a…

November 23

When my wife and I could no longer communicate with each other,...however with the help of dedicated aides, I was able to keep my wife home and still care for her there, because I knew that she would have done the same for me. There is so much more I could say but there is not enough room here for…

November 23

The last stage. He would hide his poop in my blanket or behind the toilet. He would not sleep at night at all, so I didn't get much. He was combative and could no longer understand or follow direction and he had little to no cognitive speech. And lastly came the incontinence and the battle to…

November 23

When my mom didn't know me... I was her only child. It broke my heart. It's been almost a year & it's so hard.

November 23

I can empathize with you Claudette. I was my fathers only natural born child, he never stated my name the 4 years I cared for him but he would speak the name of my husband and our male friend who helped us care for him. God Bless and carry through your healing of a heartbreaking loss. That loss was a win for your mom now she is free of this disease and can watch over you.

November 27

it is very sad for them I have seen every thing I have lost more and more every day don't leave him please or put him away it will kill him trust me please fay

November 23

I think all the stages are bad but I think the stage I am seeing now is pretty bad where they know that they are losing their independence and struggling to keep it. The stage where they feel like you are the bad person for taking over because they can no longer do the things they did like…

November 23

You are at a hard point I remember mom getting so mad saying we thought she was crazy.Trying to convince her we were just trying to help.The hardest part is trying to remember even though they acknowledge the disease they forget they have it moments later.Mom loved ice cream so that became something I could side track her with when she would start getting pissed I would suggest she and I go down the beach to DQ.She would gladly allow me to help her to the car and drive.But by the time we would get home ice cream was gone and awhile later she was back to complaining she never did anything anymore.At the time I would be frustrated but today as I write Iam actually smiling thinking about even those times.Thank you for allowing me to release some of this on here.

November 23

Well I am just a friend to someone who has it but been caretaking her somewhat and its so heartbreaking to see my buddy who is a second mom to me going through this and the trouble is she is very independent and head strong so telling her not to drive don't work and her memory flunctuates so you think shes back and then shes gone again. Shes in a home but allowed to drive locally by her doctor and so afraid shes going to go missing.

November 23

Wow not sure why the Dr, would allow this.If your friend is concerned she should get another Dr.to check her mom and have the home take her keys away.It could become dangerous for other people on the road as well as her mom.She will forget to remember the rules of the road.My prayers for you and your friends family.